STRUGGLING Manchester holiday giant MyTravel paid more than £6m to former directors last year - during which it posted losses of almost £1bn and axed 2,000 jobs in a battle for survival.

The company's annual report shows it forked out £6.3m in salaries, compensation for loss of office, benefits and pension contributions to seven directors who left during the financial year to September 30.

MyTravel, formerly known as Airtours, issued a series of profit warnings in 2002 following the discovery of an accounting black hole, which prompted the departures of chief executive Tim Byrne and finance director David Jardine.